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T-1000S LED controller is one of the most common LED controllers available today for programming pixel LEDs due to its low price and features.
Table of Contents
T-1000S LED Controller Specifications:
Input voltage: 5V-24V
Power: 1W
Dimensions: 6.30 in x 2.95 in x 0.91 in (16.0 cm x 7.5 cm x 2.3 cm)
Weight: 230 g
MAX programs: 16
MAX LEDs: 2048
Program method: offline (SD card)
It can control single-line (NZR), double-line (I2C), RS485, and DMX LED drive chips. It supports 32–256 gray levels and software gamma correction. A single-port output can support a maximum of 2048 LEDs. You can also use several units to extend the number of ports (e.g., with two controllers networked, you can control up to 4096 LEDs).
Software
To program the T-1000S LED controller, it requires LED Edit 2014. Download the LED Edit software from below.
Here are the T1000S LED controller button functions:
If you want one program to be played, press and release the mode button quickly to skip to the next program. Keep tapping on the mode button until you get the program you want to play, and then press the “SET” button to save those settings.
If you need to change the speed of the playback, use the “SPEED+” button to increase the speed of the playback and “SPEED-” to reduce the speed of the playback. Once you reach the speed that you want, press the “SET” button to save the speed settings.
If you want the program to be played one file after another, press both the “SPEED+” and “SPEED-” buttons together and release them. Then press the “SET” button to save the settings.
Make sure you press the “SET” button after every setting change. If not, upon restarting the controller, you won't get the playback you wanted.
Since these functions may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, please ask for the user manual for your controller from your vendor.
Wiring the T-1000S LED controller
The wiring of the T-1000S LED controller can be done in several ways. It depends on your needs. Here are some common wiring methods: To drive less than 2048 LEDs, you can use a single-controller wiring method. If you have more than 2048 LEDs, use a multi-controller wiring method.
Single Controller Wiring for a 3 wire Pixel LED Strip or String
This method can be used when you are using less than 2048 LEDs (3 wires, NZR). A common power supply (5 volts) is used for both the controller and the Pixel LED string. Here is the connection between each component.
Multi-Controller Wiring for a 3 Wire Pixel LED Strip or String
This method can be used when you are using more than 2048 LEDs (3 wires, NZR). A common power supply (5 volts) is used for the controllers and the Pixel LED strings. Here is the connection between each component. This is an example of a two-controller network. You can connect more than two controllers like this. With two controllers connected, you can control up to 4096-pixel LEDs.
Single Controller Wiring for a 4 wire Pixel LED Strip or String
This method can be used when you are using less than 2048 LEDs (4 wires, I2C). A common power supply (5 volts) is used for both the controller and the Pixel LED string. Here is the connection between each component.
Multi-Controller Wiring for a 4 Wire Pixel LED Strip or String
This method can be used when you are using more than 2048 LEDs (4 wire, SPI). A common power supply (5 volts) is used for the controllers and the Pixel LED strings. Here is the connection between each component. This is an example of a two-controller network. You can connect more than two controllers like this. With two controllers connected, you can control up to 4096-pixel LEDs.
Single Controller Wiring for a 4 wire RS485/DMX512 Pixel LED Strip or String
This method is like the 4 wire string method, but the LED string is connected to the A and B terminals of the controller. These two terminals are for Pixel LED driver chips that support RS485 or DMX512 communication instead of NZR or SPI communication, where A is the (DMX+) signal and B is the (DMX-) signal. DMX + (A) is connected to the DMX + (A) of the Pixel LED string, and DMX – (B) of the controller is connected to the DMX – (B) of the LED string. (The wire color code may be different in the actual LED string.).
Multi-Controller Wiring for a 4 Wire RS485 Pixel LED Strip or String
Connection between each strip or string
Since the LED strings and strips come in pairs of 150 LEDs per string or strip, you have to connect each string to increase the number of LEDs. For that reason, each one of the LED strings has connectors on both sides (female and male), and each string's first LED has an extra VCC (red wire) and GND (white or blue wire) coming out of it.
So every LED string needs to be connected to the power supply using those extra wires that come out of the first LED. If not, the LED string will start to dim due to a lack of current flow. This means the wire diameter of a string is only enough to carry the current required for one string. Make sure that you use a wire with enough diameter to carry the amount of current required by the string or strings when you are wiring them to the power supply.
SD cards are used for offline controllers because they don't have internal memory to store the program files. You have to connect your SD card to your PC's VIA card reader and save your program files on the SD card. There are many types of SD cards available today (SD, MiniSD, and MicroSD). You can use any one of these cards with your controller, but they are different in size, and the pin-outs are different too.
So first, you need to find the type of SD card that your controller supports and use that type of SD card (the T-1000S LED controller supports “SD” type SD cards), or you can use an adapter for that card and insert your card inside that adapter.
e.g., if you have a microSD (TF) card and your controller supports “SD” types, you can use a microSD to SD adapter.
Micro SD to SD adapter
Opposite is also possible: SD to microSD adapter.
There are also mini SD to SD adapters and SD to mini SD adapters.
Most controllers support SD card types. Make sure that the card lock switch is not in the lock state.
If the SD card is in the lock state, you can't write data to it, but you can read the data. Unlock the SD card before using it.
If your controller doesn't support SDHC-type SD cards, try a normal SD card. There is no physical difference between them, but SD card memory is equal to or less than 4 GB, and SDHC cards are capable of memory greater than 4 GB.
Capacity
For the T-1000S LED Controller, the recommended capacity is between 128MB and 2GB, which means you can use 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB SD cards.
Format
The SD card should be formatted with the “FAT” file system. You can use the Windows default format tool to format the SD card. Insert your SD card into the card reader. In Windows Explorer, right-click on the SD card drive and select “Format“. In the format window, select the settings as shown in the below image and click on the “Start” button. wait until the formatting process is completed.
Program File placement
The program file placement inside the SD card depends on the controller's usage.
Single Controller
Single T-8000 controller file placement
In this case, every controller has an individual SD card. The file placement for each controller SD card would be like this: the first two digits stand for the program number (00 to 16). Since we use a single SD card for each controller, the last digit is always “1“. However, you can also use the file name that was generated by the LEDEdit software.
Troubleshooting T-1000S LED Controller
Problem: Error LED flashing, no display
This may be due to a few reasons:
The controller cannot detect a damaged SD card, an unsupported SD card, or an unsupported file format.
Fix:
Check whether the SD card is of the supported type (128, 256, 512, 1GB, or 2GB). Insert it into the card reader and format it using the Windows format tool, as I mentioned previously in this tutorial. Replace the files again and try again.
Oxidized card pins or controller pins: remove the card and check the gold plating of the pins; if they are damaged and the gold plating is gone, replace the card. If the controller port is damaged and the plated gold is gone, you have to replace the port.
Unknown file type or no file: The file type should be “.led.” Other file types may cause an error light to flash. Please recheck the files using a PC.
Different controller type: If you have selected T-1000B-XXXX instead of T-1000S-XXXX, it may cause an error.
Problem: No error light flashing, but no LED effect either
This is due to a physical error—damaged wires in the LED string, damaged, oxidized connectors, or selecting the wrong drive chip type in the new project window. If the port is damaged, you have to resolder it. If connectors are oxidized, you have to use isopropyl alcohol to clean them. You can use a toothbrush, dip it in isopropyl alcohol, and brush the oxidized parts of the controller and the LED string.
Warnings
Hot Swapping: Never pull out or remove the SD card from the controller while the power is on (this will damage your SD card permanently, or if you are lucky, you can get away with only the file lost or damaged). Always power off the controller, wait for a few seconds, and remove the card.
Never reverse the polarity: Reverse polarity protection may or may not be in your controller or LED string. If there is no protection, it will damage the controller and Pixel LED Driver I.C. Use a multimeter to check the polarity of the power supply output before wiring.
Since there are thousands of different manufacturers, wire colors may change with the manufacturer. Please contact the seller or the manufacturer before wiring. If not, it may cause damage to the driver's chip.
Check the feedback of the sellers before buying online. There are many fake or damaged controllers. Pixel LED strings are available on the internet. (Be aware of scammers.)
Limit the amount of time you spend inserting and removing the SD card from the controller, because every time you do this, it will cause the gold-plated pins to scratch, which will lead to the oxidizing of the pins.
Environmental conditions may cause damage to your LED string and the LED controller. The controllers are not designed for outdoor use; they're for indoor use only. If you are putting the LED string outside, please make sure to use the water-sealed LED strings. However, even the water-sealed LED strings may be damaged due to harsh environmental conditions.
